Samsung sets sights on iPad mini with new Galaxy Note 8.0 tablet

Samsung (005930) is finally gaining some momentum in the tablet market after a slow start with the original Galaxy Tab, which launched in late 2010. The South Korean consumer electronics giant now has a number of slates available in the 7- and 10-inch ranges, but Apple’s (AAPL) 8-inch iPad mini opened new doors for mid-size tablets following its release this past November. Samsung was already putting a mid-range tablet together when the iPad mini debuted last year, and now the company is finally ready to take the wraps off its latest Note series device: The Galaxy Note 8.0.

With a footprint that measures 8.3 inches by 5.4 inches, the Galaxy Note 8.0 can be used comfortably with one hand but provides much more screen real estate than a 7-inch tablet. As this slate falls into Samsung’s Note lineup, it also includes an S Pen stylus and an updated suite of stylus-ready apps.

Samsung’s new 8-inch Note slides perfectly into the gap between the Galaxy Note II and the Galaxy Note 10.1. “It’s the best of both worlds,” Samsung Mobile’s director of product planning Shoneel Kolhatkar said during a briefing.

Key specs include an 8-inch 1280 x 800-pixel TFT display, a 1.6GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB or 64GB of internal storage, microSDXC support, a 4,600 mAh battery, Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean and a sleek case that is 25% thinner that the Galaxy Note 10.1. The Note 8.0 also includes an integrated 3G antenna, but a Wi-Fi-only version will be available shortly after the 3G version launches.

While Samsung focused mainly on the consumer market with the first Galaxy Note tablet, The Note 8.0 is as much about enterprise as it is about consumers. “The next big thing is being extended to business,” Samsung Electronics’ marketing boss Travis Merrill told reporters at a recent meeting in New York City. Great features like the ability to run multiple apps at once in different windows extends the slate’s utility in a business environment, and Samsung’s “SAFE” certification means the tablet is secure.

Other intriguing features include a new “Readers Mode,” which conserves battery, dims the screen and changes the tablet’s contrast settings to make it a great eReader, and a host of new second screen features that make the Note 8.0 a solid TV companion.

The Galaxy Note 8.0 will launch in a number of markets around the world including the United States beginning in the second quarter this year. Pricing has not yet been announced.

INTRODUCING THE GALAXY NOTE 8.0,
A NEW ERA OF PORTABILITY AND EVERYDAY PRODUCTIVITY

SEOUL, Korea [February 24, 2011] – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today announced the launch of the 8 inch tablet, the GALAXY Note 8.0; a new era of intelligent Note technology set to re-ignite the mid-size tablet category that Samsung established in 2010. Providing unrivalled multimedia performance within a compact one-hand-grip screen, the GALAXY Note 8.0 has the power and advanced technology to evolve the tablet experience and ensure you achieve new levels of efficient multi-tasking while benefitting from superb voice call functionality*. Furthermore, the intelligent S Pen brings together the latest innovation and the ease of using a traditional pen and paper; creating a sophisticated mobile experience that will enhance life on the go.

“Back in 2010 the launch of the first Samsung GALAXY Tab with 7 inch screen opened a new chapter in the mobile industry. Now almost three years later, Samsung continues to evolve the sector that meets the demands of modern life.” said JK Shin, President of the IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics.

“The GALAXY Note 8.0 breaths fresh life into the category as it delivers the perfect fusion of portability and everyday productivity – the result is a pioneering, pocket-sized solution that enhances and enriches our everyday lives, whether at work or play,” added Shin.

At the core of the GALAXY Note 8.0’s innovative solutions are beneficial functions, including multi-window options to split the portable 8inch screen and allow optimal access to a number of live applications; a new generation of Samsung’s intelligent S Pen with advanced usability; access to a suite of S Note templates and tools that allow you to create, edit, manage and share everyday documents; the Samsung “reading mode” technology to enjoy e books with optimized resolution, video and voice calls*. In addition, a suite of exciting new content and services are pre-loaded for users at no additional cost including, for the very first time on Samsung GALAXY tablet, the innovative Flipboard, and Awesome Note.

A smart diary for life on the go

Slim and compact enough to become the perfect on-the-go work and play companion, the GALAXY Note 8.0 brings powerful performance and functionality to support even the most demanding of lifestyles. Designed to store and manage your personal and professional data efficiently, the new era device gives users the perfect pocket-sized hands-on organizational tool. Practical S Note templates and S Planner feature help to manage everyday tasks, including meeting notes, to-do lists and even personal diary entries. All content can be entered and updated with the finest of detail thanks to the evolution of the intelligent Samsung S Pen. Enhanced precision is offered with Handwriting-to-Text conversion and advanced Productivity Tools that support formula and shape recognition are now available at the touch of your S Pen.

New content and services

GALAXY Note 8.0 is packed with pre-loaded content and apps specifically for the value maximizing, mass multimedia consumer. Upgraded Chat-On provides easy instant messaging and group chatting in multiple formats – images, video, voice, contacts – for simple, enjoyable communication. Awesome Note, an integrated application that is introduced in android tablet for the first time with NOTE 8.0, is capable of unlimited note-taking uses including Memo, Diary and Must-remember lists. With Flipboard, your news, social network and other feeds come together in one stylish, flippable format so you can enjoy all your news and life’s great moments in one place. Flipboard developed a customized version of its application exclusively for Samsung that allows users to take the S Pen’s hover feature and preview article headers beneath Flipboard’s main screen tiles. Finally, Smart Remote, gives you a universal remote control and electronic programming guide allowing you to manage TV and video watching seamlessly.

A new age of S Pen intelligence

Optimized to aid personalized creativity, the Samsung S Pen has evolved to increase everyday usability and enhance creation expression. Embedded within the tablet, the S Pen is an extension of the GALAXY Note 8.0. Removing the S Pen from the device will automatically launch innovative features such as Pen Detection that will suggest adapted menus that it thinks you’ll need and Page Buddy, a feature that will intuitively activate your most recently adapted S Note home screen.

S Pen technology is now so advanced that it doesn’t even have to touch the screen. With Air View, the S Pen needs only to hover over the screen to see previews of videos, emails, photos and appointments on SPlanner without opening the file or application in full. S Pen Gesture allows images and content to be easily edited and cropped, whilst Paper Artist and Photo Note allow photos to be artistically personalized.

In addition, for the very first time in GALAXY NOTE category, you can use S Pen to control the physical menu/back buttons on the device with WACOM technology.

Maximizing mass multimedia consumption

Creative multi-tasking with the GALAXY Note 8.0 is effortless due to innovative Dual View feature, two multi window options that seamlessly allow you to facilitate multi-screen usage. Dual View’s split screen accommodates optimal operation of different apps, such as launching the S Note on the web browser screen and allowing content to be resized, dragged and dropped as required.

Multi-tasking is extended to phone calls*. Pop Up Note allows you to access S Note at any time to keep track of key actions and Pop Up Video ensures you can keep surfing the web whilst chatting – content windows can be easily resized by pinching to enlarge or reduce.

Perfect info-tainment partner

Packed with features to engage, entertain and excite, the GALAXY Note 8.0 supports your practical everyday needs. Reading Mode transforms the GALAXY Note 8.0 into an e-Book reader, provides the optimal reading conditions to ensure you can curl up and enjoy a good book. You can even turn it into a universal remote control with Smart Remote, to seamlessly manage TVs, set-up boxes, DVD & Blu-ray players.